Stephen Zebiak, Director General of the Earth Institute’s
International Research Institute for Climate Prediction (IRI), is pleased
to announce that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World
Health Organization (WHO) have designated the IRI as a collaborating research
center. The new center, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Early Warning
Systems for Malaria and other Climate-Sensitive Diseases, will be directed
by IRI’s Dr. Stephen Connor, a specialist in the geography of infectious
diseases who has worked extensively on the connection between climate and
malaria in Africa.

“The PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Early Warning
Systems for Malaria and Other Climate-Sensitive Diseases will allow greater
opportunity to pool the IRI’s knowledge and expertise in climate-health
research with these two agencies that support countries in spearheading
the control of these major diseases in less developed countries. It is a
wonderful opportunity,” said Connor on the establishment of the new center.

The new center will facilitate improved knowledge and
application of seasonal climate forecasts in regions facing high incidences
of climate-related diseases such as malaria, dengue and cholera, with malaria
alone threatening more than 110 million people living in epidemic prone
regions in Africa. Additionally, where the predictive skill is high, the
center will work with local agencies and other groups to help implement
effective prevention and control measures in epidemic prone regions. For
example, in September 2004, the WHO and the Southern Africa Development
Community’s (SADC) Drought Monitoring Centre held the first Southern African
Regional Epidemic Outlook Forum, in part, to review seasonal climate forecasts
and the implications on the next malaria season as part of developing a
Malaria Early Warning System in the region (http://www.malariajournal.com/content/3/1/37).
The IRI will continue to work with PAHO and WHO on such initiatives as part
of the new center’s activities and early next year will begin to explore
new projects on malaria and dengue in Colombia and cholera in Asia and Africa.

The International Research Institute for Climate Prediction
(IRI), part of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, aims to enhance
society’s ability to understand, anticipate and manage the impact of seasonal
climate fluctuations, so as to improve the quality of life and the environment.
From environmental monitoring and forecasting to climate-related risk management
tools and practices in water resources, public health, agriculture, and
food security, IRI and its partners focus on opportunities to build capacity
for bringing climate information into regional planning and decision-making.
For more information, visit http://iri.columbia.edu/

The Earth Institute at Columbia University is the world’s
leading academic center for the integrated study of Earth, its environment
and society. The Earth Institute builds upon excellence in the core disciplines—earth
sciences, biological sciences, engineering sciences, social sciences and
health sciences—and stresses cross-disciplinary approaches to complex problems.
Through research, training and global partnerships, it mobilizes science
and technology to advance sustainable development, while placing special
emphasis on the needs of the world’s poor. For more information, visit www.earth.columbia.edu.